I watched a documentary on Nat Geo recentally about AF1 and the Pres Advance Team stages AF Officers inside the control towers to supervise activity. Don't recall that they actually replace the controllers but I guess its possible in some countries.

It does sound dysfunctional, but it's a result of different people having different levels in terms of security clearances and different skill-sets for different people.

Even in private sector corporate environments there are times when senior management will allow administrative support staff to push out print-outs but not let them see it.

I was under the impression that replacement of tower controllers isn't always anywhere near as frequent a given as same skill-set able "minders" being put in place.

i really don't think GS/BAC/C allow people to "see" merger data, for example.

about Xerox created the most advanced desktop computer system (alto, and star)about 20 years ago. they sold it to mac, and it became the Lisa. they also solld them the graphic inteeface and the mouse. at about the same time charles siminoni at xerox created "Bravo". the forerunner of word. he wrote word. simoni went to microsoft with bravo. he owns an island near seattle, a couple of helicopters, and took a trip in space. my wife was the analyst for that machine and software. she refused to go to seattle.

when WH equipment broke, top half of xerox bldng in royslin was cleared, facing buildings were cleared, all by secret service. she would print the stuff to a remote printer. all residue was confiscated. took about 50 or so SS agents, and a huge traffic jam. she did similar things for other agencies for top secret documents. she had highest level of civilian clearance, but that was not near good enough. sure wish she would have gone to MS.

particularly during the bush era, a group of about 6 helicopters would depart andrews, fly over to and down suitland parkway(not the potomac) and back. about an hour later, an AF1 would take off from andrews, and if north, turn and run up or down the beltway very loW and slow. happened at least once a week.

Just follow the #AF1 hashtag on Twitter for some interesting tidbits on Air Force 1 operations: https://twitter.com/#!/search?q=%23AF1

Posting to this old but helpful thread because one of the AF1 747's just flew over my house at maybe 3-4,000 feet, that was impressive, and I was able to watch it long enough to see it make the turn for Andrews (I presume). No idea if anyone is on board today. I live north of the beltway and don't see much KAFB traffic. I jumped online to see if I could track it. The consensus seems to be: maybe. Flightaware as a policy does not track military aircraft. Flightradar24 is Swedish and you can see military aircraft but the identity reads "blocked". There are some others that may have various policies (planefinder.net, etc). Based on other reports in the airline nerd forums apparently AF1 may or may not have it's transponder on depending on location, situation, etc. All in all pretty cool stuff.

AF1 does have transponder turned on sometimes -- at least it did in the past.

I too would get a buzz if I saw AF1 flying over my house.

I get that buzz quite often when POTUS is in SF as if AF1 (or any other aircraft) departs the 28's ex-SFO and turns north, all I have to do is step out on to my balcony and look up